LAS CRUCES (4:53 p.m. update) — Dr. Wendy K. Wilkins, executive vice president and provost at New Mexico State University, will assume the administrative duties of President Barbara Couture, who is on an unspecified leave of absence.

NMSU Regent Chairman Mike Cheney declined to disclose why Couture was placed on leave Tuesday. He said the five-member Board of Regents will hold two meetings Monday on campus; a closed-door session to discuss personnel and legal matters, followed by a public hearing.

"The Board of Regents remains committed to students and stake-holders, and will be putting out information as soon as it becomes available," Cheney said.

NMSU issued a brief statement this afternoon adding that the day-to-day business of NMSU will continue under the direction of each unit vice president or college dean.

Earlier today, faculty members and students on campus said they were frustrated about learning of Couture's abrupt leave of absence through media reports.

"Here we are, 12 hours after the fact, and we still don't know anything," Dr. Julie S. Rice, a sociology professor at NMSU, said this afternoon in her office.

People on campus said they had been kept in the dark by the NMSU regents and administration, which released a terse statement late Tuesday announcing that Couture is "currently on leave," without specifying the reason.

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"All I can tell you right is that (Couture) is on leave right now, and per NMSU policy, our provost will assume her administrative responsibilities," said Cheney, who also declined to comment on speculation behind Couture's absence.

There have been a series of criticisms of the university and Couture in recent months, including an athletics program struggling to find a conference footing and a nursing program at Doña Ana Community College that was denied accreditation this summer.

"I can't make comments related to rumors," Cheney said. "We will be going into our meetings Monday to discuss matters that we need to discuss, and there should be more information on Monday."

Rice, the sociology professor, said faculty morale at NMSU has been low in the past three years because of a lack of raises. She bemoaned the apparent lack of transparency and stability at the university's leadership level.

"How more opaque can the process be?" said Rice, who feels the confusion makes the university look unprofessional.

"It would be really nice to get some stability here," she said. "It has really made more committed to stay focused on my job. I can continue to do my job even when (the regents) are trying to figure out what they're going to do.

"As one of my colleagues said, 'At least the lights are still on,'" Rice added.

Cheney said the regents are committed to transparency and the state's Open Meeting Law.

"That's why we're trying to move to an open meeting as soon as possible to discuss this," Cheney said.

Brian Fraga can be reached at (575) 541-5462; Follow him on Twitter @bfraga

LAS CRUCES - Faculty members and students at New Mexico State University say they are frustrated about learning of university President Barbara Couture's abrupt leave of absence through media reports.

"Here we are, 12 hours after the fact, and we still don't know anything," Dr. Julie S. Rice, a sociology professor at NMSU, said Wednesday afternoon in her office.

People on campus said they have been kept in the dark by the NMSU regents and administration, which released a terse statement late Tuesday confirming that Couture is "currently on leave," without specifying the reason.

Regent Chairman Mike Cheney, a Las Cruces banker, did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment. Three other members of the five-person board of regents also did not return telephone calls. An assistant for Regent Kari Mitchell, a Las Cruces business owner, referred all questions to Cheney.

NMSU spokeswoman Minerva Baumann said today that she did not have any further information about Couture being on leave, nor did she say if an interim president will be appointed.

There have been a series of criticisms of the university and Couture in recent months, including an athletics program struggling to find a conference footing and a nursing program at Doña Ana Community College that was denied accreditation this summer.

Rice said faculty morale at NMSU has also been low in the past three years because of a lack of raises. She bemoaned the apparent lack of stability at the leadership level, and the lack of transparency.

"How more opaque can the process be?" said Rice, who feels the confusion makes the university look unprofessional.

"It would be really nice to get some stability here," she said. "It has really made more committed to stay focused on my job. I can continue to do my job even when (the regents) are trying to figure out what they're going to do.

"As one of my colleagues said, 'At least the lights are still on,'" Rice added.

Brian Fraga can be reached at (575) 541-5462; Follow him on Twitter @bfraga

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